Medication for eyebrow and beard growth

What medication is used for eyebrow growth?

Bimatoprost, a prostaglandin analogue developed for glaucoma, is approved in several markets for inadequate eyelashes and used off-label on eyebrows, though its effect depends on continued use and reverses after stopping. Side effects with ocular use include iris pigmentation change, periorbital skin darkening and eyelid changes, so it needs clinical guidance near the eye.

What medication is used for beard growth?

Topical Minoxidil is used off-label on the beard, and some small studies along with considerable anecdotal use suggest it can thicken existing sparse growth. The important limit is that it only acts on follicles that are present; where a patch has no follicles, no topical produces them, which is the distinction between medication and transplantation.

What practical cautions apply to using medication on eyebrows or the beard?

Facial skin is thinner than scalp skin and irritates more readily, and Minoxidil on the face can cause unwanted hair growth where it spreads. Absorption from facial application is not well characterised, nothing should be applied to a recently transplanted area without clinic approval, and any effects depend on continued use.

• Facial skin is thinner than scalp skin and irritates more readily
• Minoxidil on the face can cause unwanted growth where it spreads
• Absorption from facial application is not well characterised
• Nothing should be applied to a recently transplanted area without clinic approval
• Effects depend on continued use

When is surgery the answer instead of medication for eyebrows or beard?

Where an area genuinely lacks follicles, from scarring, congenital sparseness or long-standing loss, transplantation is the option that adds hair rather than stimulating what is already there. Donor supply spent on the face is permanently unavailable to the scalp, so candidacy for eyebrow or beard transplantation should be weighed carefully first.

Our guides to eyebrow transplantation and beard transplantation cover candidacy.

Sources

1. Barrón-Hernández YL, Tosti A. Bimatoprost for the treatment of eyelash, eyebrow and scalp alopecia. Expert Opinion on Investigational Drugs, 2017;26(4):515-522. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28264599
2. Glaser DA, Hossain P, Perkins W, Griffiths T, Ahluwalia G, Weng E, Beddingfield FC. Long-term safety and efficacy of bimatoprost solution 0·03% application to the eyelid margin for the treatment of idiopathic and chemotherapy-induced eyelash hypotrichosis: a randomized controlled trial. The British Journal of Dermatology, 2015;172(5):1384-94. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25296533
3. Carruthers J, Beer K, Carruthers A, Coleman WP 3rd, Draelos ZD, Jones D, Goldman MP, Pucci ML, VanDenburgh A, Weng E, Whitcup SM. Bimatoprost 0.03% for the Treatment of Eyebrow Hypotrichosis. Dermatologic Surgery, 2016;42(5):608-17. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/27124878
4. Steinsapir KD, Steinsapir SMG. Revisiting the Safety of Prostaglandin Analog Eyelash Growth Products. Dermatologic Surgery, 2021;47(5):658-665. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/33625141
5. Wattanawinitchai K, Pomsoong C, Ratanapokasatit Y, Suchonwanit P. Efficacy and safety of topical 3% minoxidil for facial hair enhancement in transmen: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. The Journal of Dermatological Treatment, 2026;37(1):2638637. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41778417
6. Klingbeil KD, Fertig R. Eyebrow and Eyelash Hair Transplantation: A Systematic Review. The Journal of Clinical and Aesthetic Dermatology, 2018;11(6):21-30. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/29942421

This article summarises published research. It is general educational information, not medical advice, and it is not a recommendation to start, stop or change any medication. Prescription drugs carry contraindications and interactions; discuss them with a doctor who knows your medical history.